Paper cutting or slitting machine



Jan. 3, 1939. H. NICHOLAS PAPER CUTTING OR SLITTING MACHINE Filed May 20, 1937 2 Sheets-sheaf 1 I I I III;

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:47- TOENEY Jan. 3; 1939. H. NICHOLAS ,14

PAPER CUTTING OR SLITI'ING MACHINE Filed May 2o, 1957 F 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 v W n I 29 12 INVENTOE fi cnr /V/ c/)0/67.5.

HTTOENEY Patented Jan. 3, 1939 UNITED STATES PAPER CUTTING OR SLITTING MACHINE Henry Nicholas, St. Louis, Mo., assignor to Graham Paper Company, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application May 20, 1937, Serial No. 143,795

15 Claims.

This invention relates generally to paper-cutting or slitting machines and, more particularly to a certain new and useful improvement in machines especially adapted for the strip-slitting of a paper-web.

As is well known, paper rolls are today manufactured in various lengths and various widths by feeding a continuous web of paper from a main or supply roll through suitable feed rolls and across variously spaced disc-knives or blades, which split the web into a series of parallel straight-edged narrow strips, then suitably wound into individual rolls.

My present invention has for its primary object the provision of a machine including means for the slitting of a fed paper-web into one or more strips, each having one or both marginal edges of so-called non-linear formation or, more specifically, of regular or uniform sinuously curved or scalloped formation.

My invention also has for an object the provision of a machine for the purpose and of the type stated which is simplein form and structure, which is readily adjustable for the production of a variety of marginal shapes and curves upon the slit strips, and which is convenient in operation, economical in maintenance cost, and efficient in the performance of its intended functions.

And with the above and other objects in view, my invention resides in the novel features of form, construction, arrangement, and combination of several parts presently described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings (two sheets) Figure 1 fragmentally illustrates in vertical transverse section a paper-web slitting and rollwinding machine equipped with my invention for the production of curved-edged or marginally I scalloped paper-strips or ribbons;

Figure 2 is an enlarged elevational view, partly broken away and in section, of a paper-web slitter or cutter of my invention;

Figure 3 is an end elevational view, partially broken away and in section, of the slitter or cutter;

Figure 4 is an elevational view of the slitter or cutter taken at an angle of 90 from the view of Figure 2;

Figures 5 and 6 are edge and side views, respectively, of one of the disc-blades of the slitter or cutter;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary plan View of one of the slit scalloped-edge paper-strips or ribbons;

Figure 8 is an elevational view of a slightly modified paper-web slitter or cutter of my invention adapted particularly for the production of a strip or ribbon having one sinuously curved or scalloped edge or margin and one straight edge or margin;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary plan view of slit scalloped-edge paper-strips or ribbons formed by the modified slitter or cutter illustrated in Figure 8;

Figure 10 is an elevational view, partly broken away and in section, of another slightly modified paper-web slitter or cutter of my invention;

Figure 11 is an enlarged end View of the slitter or cutter of Figure 10; and

Figures 12 and 13 are edge and side views, respectively, of a disc-blade of an elliptical contour for utilization in the machine.

Referring now in more detail and by reference characters to the drawings, which illustrate practical embodiments of my invention, A designates a paper-web slitting and roll-winding machine largely of standard type, merely a fragmentary or diagrammatic outline thereof being shown sufficiently for my present purposes. Briefly, however, it may be said that the machine A comprises suitable means for supporting a roll i of the web or paper to be slitted and rewound, the solid or unslitted web 2 thereof being trained over suitable rollers 3 for the purpose of guiding, tensioning, and smoothing the web for delivery thereof under uniform tension to the web slitting and rewinding mechanism of the machine.

The latter mechanism includes a pair of front and rear winding drums 4, 5, respectively, the web 2 being trained forwardly for engaging the forward lower portion of the front drum 4, as shown. Approximately as the web 2 engages the drum 4, the web 2 is passed over a slitting mechanism B of my invention for the production of a strip or ribbon C, which, passing then upwardly and rearwardly over the drum 4, is wound into a roll D. Preferably, it may here be stated, the winding of the roll D is initiated by simply tucking an end of the strip 0 around a suitable core or center 6 having a width substantially equal to the Width of the strip C, all as more fully presently appears.

I will now describe the slitting mechanism B. Such mechanism includes a pair of laterally spaced horizontally aligned bracket-arms each fixed at its outer extremity upon the inner free end of a horizontally disposed leaf-spring member 8 fixed at its other end, as shown, upon the frame of the machine, the arms 1 being provided at their respective inner extremities with aligned upwardly presented shaft-bearings or notches l, as best seen in Figure 1.

Ofa size and dimensions for removable disposition intermediate the bracket-arms l for slitting co-operation with the front roll 4, is a blade-supporting longitudinally extensible arbor E diametrically or transversely at suitably spaced locations therealong, as at a, a, and longitudinally or axially, as at b, kerfed to include a pair of complementary or companion body-members e, e, each, in turn, comprising a cylindrical endportion l2 and a hemi-cylinclrical flat-faced tailportion 3.

Each arbor end-portion I2 is provided with a precisely machined outwardly presented transverse face 1 obliquely disposed to the axis of the arbor, the respective end faces f of the arbor body-members e, e, being preferably, though not necessarily, parallel and the angle of inclination or obliquity of such end faces with respect to the axis of the arbor E bearing a definite relation to the shape and arrangement of the particular curve or scallop c' to be formed along the lengthwise marginal edges of the split strip or ribbon C.

At the opposed inner flat faces a of the tailportions l3, the arbor body-members e, e, have abutting engagement for slidable adjustment one upon the other, the tail-piece I3 of the arbormember e being provided with a pair of parallel axially extending transverse slots M for slidably accommodating respective pairs of parallel studs I5, |B, presented outwardly from the flat face 9 of the other arbor-member e. The studs l5, l6, thus maintain the arbor-members e, e, adjustably in arbor-formation, and each of the studs I6 is threadedly provided at its outer or free extremity with a locking nut assembly I for impinging engagement with the outer face of the arbor-member e, as best seen in Figures 2 and 4, for releasably securing the arbor-member e, e, in adjusted relation.

It will hence be evident that, by suitable manipulation of the locking nut assemblies H, the arbor-members e, e, may be slidably shifted axially one with respect to the other for increasing or decreasing the axial distance between said end faces I, for purposes presently more fully appearing.

Each of the arbor-members e, e, is provided in its respective end face with an axially disposed recess l8 and upon its said end face with a plurality of annularly spaced right-angularly upstanding studs IQ for precise fitting and positioning engagement in complementarily shaped recesses formed in one side face of a discblade or knife 2|, the latter also being centrally provided with a circular aperture substantially larger in diametrical size than the diametrical size of the respective arbor recesses l8.

Completing the arbor E, is a pair of cylindrical end-members 22, each provided with an oblique or beveled inwardly presented transverse endface I complementary to the respective end faces of the arbor-members e, e, projecting from which faces f are respective hub-like axial extensions 23 for disposition through the blades 2| and for close-fitting seating engagement in the respective arbor recesses l8 for clampwise securing the blades 2| in operative arbor-supported position.

The arbor E, including its body-members e, e, and end-members 22, is axially bored for loosely accommodating an end-threaded supporting shaft 24, and provided centrally in the outer endfaces of the respective members 22, are recesses for accommodating suitable arbor-supporting ball-bearing thrust mountings 26 preferably of conventional quarter-curve type, which are, in turn, threadedly mounted on the shaft 24 for adjustment therealong correspondingly to any lengthwise adjustment of the arbor-members e, e, the shaft 24 being equipped with lock or jam nuts 21 for securing not only the bearing-mountings 26, but also the arbor-members together in any such adjusted position and the shaft 24 having plain opposite end-extensions 24' for seating in the notches 1 of the bracket-arms 1, as best seen in Figures 1 and 2.

Thus it will be evident that the arbor-members e, 6, may be longitudinally adjusted, as shown in dot-dash lines in Figure 2, to space the blades 2| the desired distance coresponding to the desired width of the particular strip or ribbon C, and the blades 2| then mounted upon the positioning pins or studs IS in facewise abutment upon the respective end-faces f of the arbormembers e, e. The hub-extensions 23 of the arbor end-members 22 are first inserted through the enlarged central openings of the blades 2| and then, since such openings are somewhat enlarged, conveniently forced into said end. recesses l8 until the respective beveled or oblique faces f thereof are in fiatwise blade-securing abutment against the outwardly presented faces of the respective blades 2|. The shaft 24 is then inserted through the bore of the arbor, the roller bearing assemblies 26 positioned for rotatable engagement with the arbor at the recesses 25, and

the several parts secured separably together by the lock-nuts 21. The entire arbor assembly E is thereupon placed in the machine A, so that the outwardly extended shaft-ends 24 are freely disposed in the upwardly presented seats 1' of the bracket-arms As has been above pointed out, the blades or knives 2| are preferably of regular disc form or shape, and hence each blade has an annular or circular cutting edge. Since, however, the blades or knives 2| are disposed in a plane oblique to the axis of the arbor E, various points along the respective cutting edges thereof will be positioned at difierent radial distances from the arbor axis. The arbor assembly, though, is continuously urged upwardly into slitting co-operation with the drum 4 by the action of the leaf-spring 8. Hence the arbor E itself, in turning, will yieldingly move upwardly and downwardly, continuously maintaining the respective cutting edges of the discblades 2| in peripheral slitting engagement with the feed web 2, as shown in Figure l, for the production of the strip or ribbon C, which is wound, as described, into the roll D.

For such purpose, the core 6 is suitably mounted on a rewinding shaft 28 having its opposite ends mounted for vertical shiftable movement in guidemembers 29 upstanding suitably, as will be understood, from the respective opposite ends of the frame of the machine A. The roll D during its formation is peripherally, for surface driving rotatory strip-winding actuation, disposed on and supported by the drums 4, 5, which latter are, for such purpose, suitably power driven by any suitable means, not shown, a so-called riding drum 30 having a bearing on the upper surface of the roll D for retaining the same in contact with the drums 4, 5.

The riding drum 30 is preferably also power driven and rotarily supported in a frame 3| slidably mounted also in the guides 29, whereby, as the winding operation proceeds, the riding drum frame 30 rises in the guides 29 for, in co-operation with a suitable scale or like device, not shown, indicating to the operator the moment the roll D is of the desired diameter, the drums 4 and 5 and 32 being then disconnected from their source of power for manual manipulation or removal of the rolls from the machine.

As the arbor E and its associated blades 2| rotate about the shaft 24, the point of contact between each of the blades 2| and the fed paperweb 2, in effect, moves backwardly and forwardly in a line parallel to the arbor axis and across the surface of the paper-web 2 in the formation of the strip or ribbon C equipped or provided with sinuously curved or scalloped edges or margins c, as shown in Figure 7. The shape of the sinuous or scalloped edges or margins c of the strip or ribbon C conforms, respectively, to a curve which may be described mathematically as a sine curve having the equation h=2r sin 00, wherein h is the greatest height of the curve, r is the effective cutting radius of the blade 2|, and 0c is the angle of inclination or obliquity of the blade, as indicated by dot-dash lines in Figure 2.

It will, of course, be evident in this connection that the distance m between two successive points of greatest height or crests, as they may be called, of the sinuous strip margin is a direct mathematical function which may be determined by the above equation, and it will also be evident that the actual distances h and 122 may be varied by varying the radius r of the cutting disc or blade and the angle of inclination or obliquity 00 thereof.

In the course of continued operations over a period of time, it will be repeatedly necessary to regrind or otherwise sharpen the cutting edges of the respective blades 2|. Each such sharpening operation, however, will slightly shorten the radius r of the annular cutting edge of the blade. Since, as has been stated, the shape of the curved or scalloped edge formed by an obliquely disposed blade bears a direct mathematical relationship to the disc radius r, the shape of the curve will change somewhat after each regrinding or sharpening operation. Hence, after several regrindings, replacement by blades having the precise desired radius is required. Economically, therefore, it is preferable to employ true circular discblades for subsequent utilization, following their discarding from the present machine, in the slitting of paper-webs for the formation of straightedge strips.

If desired, however, the arbor may be equipped with blades 2 l peripherally ground in an elliptical shape, as shown in Figures 12, 13, the elliptical form being such that the lateral or vertical projection of the cutting edge is circular in shape. In such case, the cutting edge of the blade 2%, during rotation of the arbor in the machine, will move along a regular circular path, thereby eliminating movement of the arbor itself upwardly and downwardly with respect to the surface of the fed paper-web 2.

Should it be desired to provide a slit paper-strip or ribbon having one edge or margin curved or scalloped and the opposite edge or margin straight, one of the blades may be arranged upon the arbor in a plane at right angles to the arboraxis. In this event, depending upon the choice of the machine designer, one of the blades must be circular and the other must be elliptical, that is to say, if the inclined or oblique blade which forms the scalloped edge is of circular conformation as above described, then the other blade which forms the straight edge must be elliptical in shape. If the scallop-cutting blade is elliptical, then the straight-cutting blade may be circular. In either case, the cutting edges of the two blades must be of such form as to have identical shapes in projection upon a vertical plane.

Should it be desired to simultaneously cut two complementary paper strips, such as the strips C, Figure 9, each having a scalloped edge 0 and a straight edge e, a composite arbor E may be provided having a so-called double central cylindrical body-member 32 in which a straight or vertically disposed disc-blade 21 is suitably mounted, substantially as shown, such central arbor-member 32 being provided at its opposite extremities with axially outwardly presented hemi-cylindrical portions 33 for slidable co -operation with arbor body-members e" carrying inclined disc-blades 2| substantially in the same manner as previously described in connection with the arbor of Figures 2, 3, and 4.

I may also employ for the production of the s rips C a non-adjustable arbor E", such as shown in Figure 10, which includes a cylindrical body-member 34 having parallel oblique end faces f" provided with axially disposed annular recesses I8 for receiving cylindrical hub-like extensions 23 of the arbor end-members 22, the latter being each provided with an inwardly presented oblique end-face l7 complementary to the respective end-faces f". The elliptical discblades 2| are preferably each provided with a centrally disposed elliptical and inclined aperture. as at 35. for tightly embracing the respective hubs 23. Thus a blade Zi may be disposed upon a a hub 23 and flatwise enga ed at one side face with the oblique or beveled end-face g of an arbor-member 22 the hub l1 seated in a recess Ill and the particular blade 2W then abutted fiatwise at its other side face against the endface f" of the central arbor-member 34, such member 34 and the respective end-members 22 being then secured operatively together by lockin -nins 36 driven into aligned transversely extending apertures provided for such purpose in said members. substantially as shown.

I may add that, by utilizing disc-blades of different radius and angle of obliquity or inclination, I am enabled to produce paper-strips or ribbons having differently curved lengthwise margins or edges, it being only required in this respect that the respective shape or conformation of the cutting edges of the blades be such that their lateral or vertical projections be identical, as has been previously discussed.

Thus. by my present invention, I am enabled to economically and rapidly provide a continuous strip having one or both lengthwise marginal edges conforming to a uniform or regular sinuous curve or scallop; and it should be understood that various other changes and modifications in the form, construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of the machine may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the nature and principle of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,-

l. A paper-slitting machine including a rotary arbor comprising a body-member and a separable end-member having co-operable matching end faces lying in a plane oblique to the arbor-axis, and a disc-blade secured upon the arbor and held between said faces.

2. A paper-slitting machine including a rotary arbor comprising a body-member and a separable end-member having co-operable matching oblique end-faces lying in a plane oblique to the arbor-axis, and a disc-blade secured upon the arbor and held between said faces for rotation about the axis of the arbor.

3. A paper-slitting machine including a rotary arbor comprising a body-member and separable end-members, the body-member and each respective end-member having co-operable matching end-faces lying in a plane oblique to the arboraxis,-and disc-blades secured upon the arbor and held between said respective pairs of faces for rotation about the axis of the arbor.

4. A paper-slitting machine including a longitudinally extensible rotary arbor comprising a body-member and separable end-members, the body-member and each respective end-member having co-operable matching oblique end-faces, and disc-blades secured upon the arbor intermediate said respective pairs of faces for rotation about the axis of the arbor.

5. A paper-slitting machine including a longitudinally extensible rotary arbor comprising a pair of body-members and separable end-members, said body-members being axially cut away in the provision of outwardly projecting interfitting co-operable tongue members releasably secured together for shiftable movement relatively to each other and each body-member and a respective end-member having co-operable matching oblique end-faces, and disc-blades secured upon the arbor intermediate said respective pairs of facesfor rotation about the axis of the arbor.

6. A paper-slitting machine including a rotary arbor comprising a. body-member and separable end-members, the body-member and each respective end member having co-operable matching oblique end-faces, disc-blades disposed flatwise intermediate said respective pairs of faces for rotation about the axis of the arbor, and means for separably securing the arbor-members, and the blades in assembled operative relation.

7. A paper-slitting machine including an axially bored longitudinally extensible arbor comprising a pair of companion body-members being axially cut awayin the provision of outwardly projecting interfitting co-operable tongue membersreleasably secured together for shiftable movement with respect to each other and a pair of separable end-members, each body-member and a respective end-member having co-operable matching oblique end faces, disc-blades disposed flatwise intermediate said respective pairs of faces, and means for separably securing the arbor-members and the blades in assembled operative relation.

8. A paper-slitting machine including an arbor comprising a central member and a pair of shiftable' members each mounted on, and for axial adjustment toward and away from, the central member, a disc-blade mounted on the central member and disposed at a right angle to the axis of the arbor, and elliptical blades mounted on the respective shiftable members, each disposed obliquely to the axis of the arbor.

9. A paper-slitting machine including paperfeeding means comprising a rotary drum, in combination with means comprising a rotary arbor and a disc-blade mounted concentrically on the arbor and being disposed in a plane oblique to the arbor-axis, and means for yieldingly shifting the arbor for maintaining the blade in peripheral engagement with the drum for slitting the fed web, said blade being rotatable about the axis of the arbor.

10. In a machine of the character described, a shaft, a longitudinally extensible arbor axially bored for loosely accommodating the shaft, bearing members mounted on the shaft for adjustment longitudinally thereon for rotative supporting engagement with the arbor, and a plurality of cutter knives mounted on the arbor at an oblique angle to the axis thereof.

11. In a machine of the character described, an axially bored arbor comprising a central portion having a circular cutter Wheel operatively mounted therein concentrically with, and at right angles to, the arbor axis, and a pair of shiftable portions each mounted on, and for axial adjustment toward and away from, the central portion, each shiftable portion having an elliptical cutter wheel operatively mounted thereon concentrically with, and at an oblique angle to, the arbor axis.

12. In a machine of the character described, a shaft, an arbor axially bored for loosely accommodating the shaft, bearing members mounted on the shaft for rotative supporting engagement with the arbor, and a plurality of laterally spaced outter wheels mounted on the arbor at an oblique angle to the axis thereof, saidcutter wheels all being arranged in both axial and peripheral alignment with respect to each other.

13. In a machine of the character described, an.

axially bored arbor comprising a pair of companion interfitting members axially shiftable with respect to each other and having parallel transverse end faces disposed at an oblique angle to the arbor axis, cutter members mounted in face-wise abutment on said end faces, and means for securing the cutter members thereon.

14. In a machine of the character described, a longitudinally extensible axially bored arbor comprising a pair of body-members each provided at its one end with axially outwardly extending tongue members, one of said tongue members being shaped for complementary interfitting shiftable engagement with the other of said tongue members for holding the body-members in axial alignment with respect to each other, means on one of said tongue members for releasable engagement with the other of said tongue members for holding the body members at any selected position of axially shifted adjustment, a pair of separable end members, each body-member and the respective end member having co-operable matching oblique end faces, disk blades disposed fiatwise intermediate said respective pairs of faces, and means for separably securing the bodymembers, the end members, and the blades in assembled operative relation.

15. In a machine of the character described, a longitudinally extensible axially bored arbor comprising a pair of body-members each provided at its one end with axially outwardly extending tongue members, one of said tongue members being shaped for complementary interfitting shiftable engagement with the other of said tongue members for holding the body-members in axial alignment with respect to each other, one of said tongue members having a pair of laterally spaced parallel slots, the other of said tongue members having a plurality of outwardly projecting studs positioned for sliding engagement in said slots, certain of said studs extending through said slots and being threadedly provided on their extended ends with nut members releasably engageable with the slotted tongue member for holding the body-members at any selected position of axially shifted adjustment, a pair of separable end members, each body-member and the respective end member having co-operable matching oblique end faces, disk blades disposed flatwise intermediate said respective pairs of faces, and means for separably securing the body-members, the end members, and the blades in assembled operative relation.

HENRY NICHOLAS. 

